Winner of the New Generation Indie Book Award for Non-Fiction--Crossing the Owl's Bridge uses the wisdom of worldwide folk tales to demonstrate how to share, ritualize, and transform grief. Each chapter describes psychological tasks as communicated through folk tales, offers stories about others, and provides guidelines for application. The premise is that although we do have to say goodbye to our material relationship, we are also being presented with a chance to say hello to a different type of relationship. Crossing the Owl's Bridge illustrates creative outcomes to mourning that allow one to recognize, contain, release, and yet stay in relationship and keep loving.

Dr. Bateman is known for her engaging and entertaining presenting style.Her research interests include organizational psychology, bereavement, and humor and she has delivered many notable keynote addresses, including:"There's a fox under my bed and pixie dust in my hair," at the Developmental Psychology Conference, "The Psychology of Humor" at the Women’s Wellness Conference, and “College Culture through the song lyrics of Bob Marley,” at the Community College League of CA conference. She recently presented a TEDx talk called “Singing Over Bones” and is the author of a book on the same subject called "Crossing the Owl's Bridge: A Guide for Grieving People who Still Love" (Chiron Publications, 2016). Dr. Batemanserves as the Executive Dean of the Tahoe-Truckee Campus of Sierra College.

"She makes you laugh and she makes you think."

"I have never seen 500 people so transfixed, you could hear a pin drop."

"Dr. Bateman has a true gift and I found myself alternately laughing and crying, very touching."

"....and the feedback was incredible. You were a perfect keynote speaker and I appreciate all the time and effort on your part to participate and make this day a memorable one."

"The keynote was personal and real. It was applicable no matter what your developmental level. Fantastic!"

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Presented at the Global Dying and Death Conference in Lisbon, Portugal ​(March, 2018)

Dr. Bateman suddenly lost her twenty-one year old brother in a tragic skiing accident and has since confronted the subject of death and mourning head-on. She is a clinical psychologist who has facilitated workshops, and taught courses in death and dying for 20 years. She gave a TEDx Talk called “Singing Over Bones,” authored a chapter in the book “And Death Shall Have Dominion,” wrote, "Crossing the Owl's Bridge," and speaks regularly on the topic of bereavement.

Dr. Bateman earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1999 from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She also holds a Master’s in Psychology, with a specialization in academic research from Humboldt State University. She earned a B.A. in Humanities from Sierra Nevada College.

Since being named Valedictorian Class of 1987 she has won numerous awards, including Faculty of the Year three times; Sierra Nevada College Outstanding Achievement Award; Sierra College Manager of the Year; Best Boss of Truckee/North Tahoe; Eve Ensler’s International Vagina Warrior Award for outstanding contributions to women’s issues; and the Dean’s Council’s Wisdom Award. Crossing the Owl's Bridge won a New Generation Indie Award for Non-Fiction.

Dr. Bateman has been the Executive Dean of the Tahoe-Truckee Campus of Sierra College for the past ten years. Prior to serving in this position, she was as a full professor at Sierra Nevada College, where she taught 17 different classes in the discipline of Psychology. She was also the Faculty Council Chair, Chair of Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, and both Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies Department Chair. She served for five years as a psychotherapist and mediator at Tahoe Women’s Services and Truckee Group, Individual and Family Counseling Center.

Dr. Bateman has spoken at many conventions, including the International Bereavement Conference, Global Conference on Dying and Death, American Association of University Professors, Western Psychology Association, and Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. She delivered a keynote address to the City College of San Francisco and was the featured speaker at the California Community College League Conference. Dr. Bateman has facilitated workshops entitled “GriefWork,” “DreamWorlds,” and “The Transformative Power of Myth.”